BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEW-DRILL®
Cuttings encapsulation and improved cuttings integrity
Table 13 - 4 PERFORMAX System Products and Functions
Salt/polymer fluids have been used since the outset for deepwater applications. Baker Hughes
Drilling Fluids dominated the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) deepwater market for many years with a 20%
NaCl/PHPA system. These systems were traditionally utilized in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
The North Sea utilized a KCL component for added inhibition while the GoM, was restrained from
using KCL due to environmental discharge regulations. Inherent to both systems was a level of gas
hydrate suppression due to an elevated salt content. Glycols may be added to these systems to further
improve hydrate suppression.
Silicate drilling fluid systems have a long history in the oilfield, first being introduced in the 1930’s
and known as “protective silicate muds”. After some success at drilling heaving shales, they were
abandoned due to problems of achieving stable rheological properties in conjunction with the
introduction of natural organic dispersants. They were reintroduced in the 90’s and again were
mostly discontinued due to their tendency of polymerizing to form a silica gel, unacceptable lubricity
and accretion. Silicates may have specialty applications in certain deepwater applications, for
example to strengthen weak top hole formations such as oozes.
PENETREX® is a Rate-of-Penetration (ROP) enhancer and bit-balling prevention additive. It was
introduced in 1997 to address ROP issues associated with water base mud and PDC bit applications.
Outstanding results were obtained in a DEA-90 study performed on a full scale drilling simulator.
The same results have been realized as PENETREX ® has been applied in field operations.
CLAY-TROL® was introduced in 1999 as a shale stabilizer to address hydration tendencies of
young shale in the Gulf of Mexico. CLAY-TROL® has proven to be an excellent stabilizer and its
amphoteric chemistry makes it a versatile product. It has been used successfully in several deepwater
projects.
MAX-GUARD is the primary class hydration and swelling suppressant of the PERFORMAX
system. Clay and gumbo inhibition is achieved by limiting water adsorption and providing improved
cuttings integrity. MAX-GUARD effectively inhibits reactive clays and gumbo from hydrating and
becoming plastic, which provides a secondary benefit of reducing the tendency for bit balling. MAX-
GUARD can be readily added to the mud system without effecting viscosity or filtration properties.
NON-AQUEOUS SYSTEMS
Non-aqueous fluids are the fluids of choice for many operators for deepwater wells. As discussed
previously, this brings with it a great deal of challenge. In order to meet these challenges Baker
Hughes Drilling Fluids has developed a variety of non-aqueous fluids for deepwater operations.
The SYN-TEQ® system was developed in response to environmental restrictions on the discharges
associated with mineral oil based systems. SYN-TEQ® was developed using a low-viscosity, nontoxic,
biodegradable, isomerized olefin- ISO-TEQ®- as the base fluid. Since then a variety of base
fluids have been used in SYN-TEQ® formulations, including:
• Linear alpha olefin, ALPHA-TEQ
• Linear paraffin, PARA-TEQ
BAKER HUGHES DRILLING FLUIDS
REFERENCE MANUAL
REVISION 2006 13-8